How to Tell a Rhinestone from a Real Diamond

Rhinestones can look very similar to diamonds, and some people may be misled by this resemblance to pay more than they should for a stone that is simply a diamond imitation. There are ways to tell a rhinestone from a real diamond, though. Let’s see how you can spot the difference.

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What Are Rhinestones Made Of?

Rhinestone is a name that originally referred to crystals collected along the riverbeds of the Rhine River in Europe.

Rhinestone ring

Nowadays, the rhinestones sold as jewelry are made of quartz, glass or plastic and can be seen in a variety of colors.

These stones are relatively cheap, and when cut, faceted, and polished, they can be used as diamond imitations as long as they are colorless.

U.V. Light Test: Not Conclusive

Rhinestones, on the other hand, usually don’t exhibit such an effect. Some vendors, however, sell rhinestones that are fluorescent.

To make things worse, many diamonds are not fluorescent. This is why using U.V. light to test whether you have rhinestone or diamond does not lead to conclusive results, and you shouldn’t take fluorescence as a clear sign that you have a genuine diamond.

Using Diamond Testers

Although these tools can tell you if a stone is not a real diamond, they won’t show whether it is a rhinestone or something else.

Price as a Sign of Authenticity

Rhinestones are much cheaper than real diamonds of similar size, color, and clarity.

Although the low price may indicate that you are not dealing with a genuine diamond, some sellers may try to sell you a rhinestone pretty expensively. Use price as a clue only in conjunction with other tests.